Elaine Lewis presents the legendary The Silhouettes 11/06 by Colored People | Blog Talk Radio.
The Sillhouettes
Doo-Wop originated in the ’40s in African American communities and became maintream in the ’50s and 60′s. The Orioles helped develop the doo-wop sound with their hit “It’s Too Soon to Know” by Deborah Chessler (1948).
Some of the popular groups and their songs:
1954 The Penguins – Earth Angel
1954 The Wrens – Come Back My Love
1955 The Rainbows – Mary Lee
1955 The Valentines – Lily Maebelle
1957 The Monotones – Book Of Love
1957 The Charts – Dance Girl
1958 The Danleers – One Summer Night
1963 The Crystals – Da Doo Ron Ron
To name a few…
The Silhouettes – The Silhouettes were a Philadelphia doo-wop and soul group best known for their self-penned song Get A Job, recorded in 1957 and a number one hit on the R&B and pop charts in 1958.
Photo Courtesy: TheSilhouettes.org
Original Members
Bill Horton (lead, 1956-61, 1980-93)
Raymond Edwards (bass, 1956-61, 1980-93)
Earl Beal (baritone, 1956-68, 1980-93)
Richard Lewis (tenor, 1956-68, 1980-93)
The Philadelphia Tribune 15 March 1958
Gold Record presentation for Get A Job
Viola Williams, Bill Horton, Raymond Edwards,
Dick Clark, Kae Williams, Earl Beal, Rick Lewis
Kae Williams was the group’s first manager and instrumental in getting The Silhouettes on the map with “Get a Job”.
He was a prominent radio personality and the father of our very own D.A. Williams. Click here to listen to our interview with D.A.
The New Silhouettes in 1968
Back: Richard Lewis, Cornelius Brown
Front: Earl Beal, John Wilson
Courtesy of: TheSilhouettes.org
Later Members
John Wilson (lead, 1961-1968)
Cornelius Brown (bass 1961-1968)
Elaine Lewis, widow of Silhouette Rick Lewis was an integral part of the group’s revival in the 1980s and who is now releasing a brand new CD compilation of the groups music.
Elaine was born in Philadelphia, PA. and as a child picked up the guitar right away, parents bought her a uke when she was around 10. She says: “Thanks to Elvis Presley being all the rage. I figured out chords on my own, I later found out that what I was playing were real chords–C, Em, G and so on. Later was given a really cheap guitar with a chord book and learned all the chords from that and I played by ear and played along with the radio and records…”
Elaine Lewis 1964
Courtesy of: TheSilhouettes.org
The CD took a year to complete, and Elaine had material on every kind of medium–records, reel-to-reel tapes, MP3′s, cassette tapes, CD’s, even her phone’s voice mail had material.
The CD is very creative, a fabulous tribute to the group and a wonderful collectors item.
We are honored to have her with us on Sunday, November 6, 2001 at 3PM Pacific /5PM Central/6PM Eastern.
Elaine Lewis presents the legendary The Silhouettes 11/06 by Colored People | Blog Talk Radio.
Visit the Silhouette’s official website for history, photos, discography and much more. TheSilhouettes.org
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Tags: doo wop, elaine lewis, Philadelphia, The Charts, The Crystals, The Danleers, The Monotones, The Penguins, The Rainbows, the Silhouettes, The Valentines, The Wrens
Thank you for your comments, for listening and for sharing! Tania-Maria